Top 5 African selection
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 09 June 2002
Been listening to a lot of African music lately, and buying a few more. Here is my top 5, compiled after much indecision.
Remmy Ongala; Songs For the Poor Man (the CD that started it all for me)
Ali Farke Toure/Ry Cooder; Talking Timbuktu
Oliver Mutukudzi; Paivepo
Toumani Diabate/Ballake Sissoko; New Ancient Strings
Ayub Ogada; Em Mana Kuoyo
Salif Keita and Geoffrey Oryema nearly made it... Any more Africanophiles?
Bruce
Remmy Ongala; Songs For the Poor Man (the CD that started it all for me)
Ali Farke Toure/Ry Cooder; Talking Timbuktu
Oliver Mutukudzi; Paivepo
Toumani Diabate/Ballake Sissoko; New Ancient Strings
Ayub Ogada; Em Mana Kuoyo
Salif Keita and Geoffrey Oryema nearly made it... Any more Africanophiles?
Bruce
Posted on: 10 June 2002 by Nigel Cavendish
"Wanita" is good.
cheers
Nigel
cheers
Nigel
Posted on: 10 June 2002 by aybee
Baaba Maal - Missing You (stunning live set at Brighton on Saturday!)
Tinariwen - The Radio Tisdas Sessions
Mabulu - Soul Marrabenta
Kante Manfila - Tradition.
The Bhundu Boys - Shed Sessions.
Remy's are great, as are nearly all of Baaba Maal's. I have some great African cassettes by N'Der but have yet to see a CD release. Youssou N'dour releases good stuff in Senegal and junk for International markets (IMHO).
Alan
Tinariwen - The Radio Tisdas Sessions
Mabulu - Soul Marrabenta
Kante Manfila - Tradition.
The Bhundu Boys - Shed Sessions.
Remy's are great, as are nearly all of Baaba Maal's. I have some great African cassettes by N'Der but have yet to see a CD release. Youssou N'dour releases good stuff in Senegal and junk for International markets (IMHO).
Alan
Posted on: 10 June 2002 by Tony L
quote:
Any more Africanophiles?
I have not got nearly enough of this stuff...
I really rate Thomas Mapfumo - the way timing works in his stuff is totally amazing. Anyone know which are his best albums? I saw him play live years back and it was brilliant. The Bhundu Boys were really cool too, again I caught them live, and I have their first two albums. In a different style I also really like Fela Kuti, and have a couple of albums. Thats about as far as I got!
Tony.
Posted on: 10 June 2002 by Bruce Woodhouse
Tony, Shumba (On Earthworks) is a good disc. It is a really rustic and gritty recording and seriously toe-tapping stuff.
Bruce
Bruce
Posted on: 11 June 2002 by gusi
Kanda Bongo Man is one of my favourites as well, check out Amour Fou.
I also like Cheik Lo, the album with set on it, I forgot what it is called, but it is very good.
Baaba Maal, Fela Kuti, Lumbubashi (sp?) All Stars and Andy Brown are also good, as are most of the others mentioned before.
If you feel like jumping continents check out the warumpi band they are a bit rockier than most african bands but still have their own sound. Big Name - No Blankets is a classic.
Gus
I also like Cheik Lo, the album with set on it, I forgot what it is called, but it is very good.
Baaba Maal, Fela Kuti, Lumbubashi (sp?) All Stars and Andy Brown are also good, as are most of the others mentioned before.
If you feel like jumping continents check out the warumpi band they are a bit rockier than most african bands but still have their own sound. Big Name - No Blankets is a classic.
Gus
Posted on: 11 June 2002 by fred simon
Salif Keita - Soro ... a masterpiece in my view.
Posted on: 11 June 2002 by P
Err I think this album might make it to a desert island or if my house was on fire I'd make a dash for it or something?
It's really good anyway.
P
I like Fela Kuti too but get confused sometimes
It's really good anyway.
P
I like Fela Kuti too but get confused sometimes
Posted on: 11 June 2002 by Chris Metcalfe
There's a brilliant album by this Jamaican guitarist teaming up with Senegalese musicians e.g. Baaba Maal, called 'In search of the lost Riddim'. Guarantee that Naimees will love it.
Posted on: 12 June 2002 by gusi
The real sounds from Zimbabwe were also great.
I really liked the album with the soccer match call on it; Tornados vs Dynamos. I think it was from the early 80's as it refered to the former president Kenneth Banana. I have it on vinyl somewhere in Perth and it is just what you need during the world cup.
If you get a chance to see any of these bands live you should go and have a look. Specially music from Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe is very energetic and at the concerts no one can sit still.
Many of these bands are based in Paris and London so there should be lots of opportunities in the EU to see them.
Gus
I really liked the album with the soccer match call on it; Tornados vs Dynamos. I think it was from the early 80's as it refered to the former president Kenneth Banana. I have it on vinyl somewhere in Perth and it is just what you need during the world cup.
If you get a chance to see any of these bands live you should go and have a look. Specially music from Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe is very energetic and at the concerts no one can sit still.
Many of these bands are based in Paris and London so there should be lots of opportunities in the EU to see them.
Gus
Posted on: 13 June 2002 by aybee
quote:
Originally posted by gusi:
The real sounds from Zimbabwe were also great.
Many of these bands are based in Paris and London so there should be lots of opportunities in the EU to see them.
Gus
Not enough opportunities.. The Real Sounds were superb when I saw them at Salisbury many, many moons ago. Kanda Bongo Man was touring earlier this year - apparently he now lives in Manchester!
Otherwise it is my annual fix at the WOMAD festival Reading. Anyone else going??
Alan
Posted on: 14 June 2002 by Alex S.
Agree with Fred (Side 2 only). Also enjoyed the Salif Keita concert on BBC4 the other day.
Youssu N'Dour's version of Rubber Band Man is a riot.
King Sunny Adé impressed me live - jobs for all the extended family.
I'm also rather fond of Baaba Maal's Wango.
But Fela Kuti's tops.
Alex
Youssu N'Dour's version of Rubber Band Man is a riot.
King Sunny Adé impressed me live - jobs for all the extended family.
I'm also rather fond of Baaba Maal's Wango.
But Fela Kuti's tops.
Alex
Posted on: 23 June 2002 by Mike Hanson
"Kulanjan" from Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabate is an intriguing and enjoyable mix of West African and blues. This is one of my recent favourites.
BTW, I'll second the recommendation for Angelique Kidjo. A friend lent me "Black Ivory Soul", and it's very well done.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
BTW, I'll second the recommendation for Angelique Kidjo. A friend lent me "Black Ivory Soul", and it's very well done.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 23 June 2002 by fred simon
quote:
Originally posted by Alex S.:
Agree with Fred (Side 2 only)
Why only "side 2" [of Soro]?
Posted on: 25 June 2002 by Steve Catterall
2 very good compilation series to try are
Arabesque vos 1 & 2
and
Arabica vols 1 & 2
Both give a very good selection of North African/Middle eastern dance/dub influenced stuff
Arabesque vos 1 & 2
and
Arabica vols 1 & 2
Both give a very good selection of North African/Middle eastern dance/dub influenced stuff
Posted on: 25 June 2002 by Bruce Woodhouse
North African Rai
Try Cheb Mani-Meli Meli
Try Cheb Mani-Meli Meli
Posted on: 02 July 2002 by Matthew T
Don't have a lot of 'World Music' but Wasis Diop is worth a listen (Senegalese), I have Ne La Thiass.
Matthew
Matthew
Posted on: 02 July 2002 by Team Reeves
Check out Mahlatini & the Mahotella Queens from RSA - there's a very good "Best of" if you can find it.
Team
Sounds good to me.
Team
Sounds good to me.
Posted on: 04 July 2002 by Reto D
Hi,
I love Habib Koite and Waldemar Bastos. Listen to
them!
Reto
CDX, NAC102, NAPSC, Hi-Cap, NAP 250 (on Target Rack), Chord Odysee 4, ProAc Response 2.5
I love Habib Koite and Waldemar Bastos. Listen to
them!
Reto
CDX, NAC102, NAPSC, Hi-Cap, NAP 250 (on Target Rack), Chord Odysee 4, ProAc Response 2.5
Posted on: 06 July 2002 by rch
Richard Bona: Reverence
Richard Bona: Scenes from my life
Richard Bona: Scenes from my life
Posted on: 23 December 2002 by the other nickc
Good recommendations so far.
I would recommend hunting down 'Maria Tebbo' by Sam Mangwana. I heard it several years ago on Andy Kershaw's show and instantly went out and bought it - joyous african pop music.
I've just bought 'Dorothy Masuka - the definitive collection' which is great.
I would recommend hunting down 'Maria Tebbo' by Sam Mangwana. I heard it several years ago on Andy Kershaw's show and instantly went out and bought it - joyous african pop music.
I've just bought 'Dorothy Masuka - the definitive collection' which is great.
Posted on: 23 December 2002 by Igor Zamberlan
Dozy,
And there's the latest one, on World Circuit, Specialist in All Styles, which isn't bad... got it yesterday, listened through my portable rig while commuting, seems well recorded also.
Best wishes
Igor
Portable Rig: Panasonic CT790/class-A biased Meier Audio Porta Corda II/Etymotic ER4S
quote:
Gosh - how could I have forgotten Orchestra Baobab - Pirate's choice - Mali meets cuba!
And there's the latest one, on World Circuit, Specialist in All Styles, which isn't bad... got it yesterday, listened through my portable rig while commuting, seems well recorded also.
Best wishes
Igor
Portable Rig: Panasonic CT790/class-A biased Meier Audio Porta Corda II/Etymotic ER4S
Posted on: 23 December 2002 by Markus
The Moon and the Banana Tree--New Guitar music from Madagascar.
This is an interesting CD. You can hear the distinctive qualities of the music scene in Madagascar which leads to some unique sounds and feelings. I really like it.
He Miss Road--Fela Anikapulo Kuti
Orchestra Super Mazimbe--self titled
Happy Listening all,
Markus
--------
This is an interesting CD. You can hear the distinctive qualities of the music scene in Madagascar which leads to some unique sounds and feelings. I really like it.
He Miss Road--Fela Anikapulo Kuti
Orchestra Super Mazimbe--self titled
Happy Listening all,
Markus
--------
Posted on: 27 March 2003 by David Quigley
A few more ideas
Ismael Lo
Johnny Clegg & Savuka (SP)
Geoffrey Oreyema
Tama
Ismael Lo
Johnny Clegg & Savuka (SP)
Geoffrey Oreyema
Tama